Interim Department Head named for Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences

Dirk Vanderwall, an associate professor in Utah State University’s Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences, has been named interim department head.

The position was left vacant when former department head Ken White took the three-part leadership position as dean of the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences, vice president for Extension and director of the Utah Agricultural Experiment Station. White’s new appointment was effective July 1.

“I have worked with [Vanderwall] in various capacities for the past 13 years and recognize that he brings some excellent skills and perspectives to the position,” White said. “He has excellent experience in both the animal agriculture and veterinary medicine aspects of this position and has tremendous people skills that will also augment his success.”

Vanderwall has been a faculty member at Utah State since 2012. Before arriving in Logan, Vanderwall was a faculty member at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Idaho. While at U of I, he was part of the research team responsible for cloning the world’s first equine in 2003.

“I am humbled and honored to be given the opportunity to assume the role of interim department head of ADVS,” Vanderwall said. “My goal is to foster the ongoing teaching, research and extension missions of the department by fully supporting the departmental faculty and staff. Their dedicated work on a daily basis is ultimately responsible for our collective success in each of these areas.”

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